Franklin County Bankruptcy Records

Franklin County bankruptcy records are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York. Cases from Malone and the rest of Franklin County go through courthouses in Albany or Plattsburgh. You can search for bankruptcy filings, docket sheets, and discharge orders through PACER or by visiting a courthouse in person. The Franklin County Clerk's Office at 355 West Main Street in Malone also keeps court records and judgment liens that may relate to bankruptcy cases. This page covers how to find and access Franklin County bankruptcy records from both federal and local sources.

Franklin County Bankruptcy Court Information

Bankruptcy is a federal matter. Franklin County falls under the Northern District of New York. This district covers 32 counties across upstate New York. Cases from Franklin County are typically assigned to the Albany or Plattsburgh courthouse. The Northern District has offices in Albany at 445 Broadway, Syracuse at 100 South Clinton Street, and Utica at 10 Broad Street. Plattsburgh may also hold meetings of creditors for Franklin County filers.

You file a bankruptcy petition at the federal level, not through the Franklin County Clerk. The clerk's office in Malone handles state court records and land filings. It does not process bankruptcy cases. Still, the Franklin County Clerk keeps judgment dockets and lien records that often tie into bankruptcy proceedings. Federal tax liens and state tax warrants filed in Franklin County can show up in a debtor's bankruptcy schedules.

Attorneys in Franklin County must file through the CM/ECF electronic system. Pro se debtors can submit paper petitions at any Northern District courthouse during business hours. The court runs from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays.

How to Search Franklin County Bankruptcy Records

PACER is the main tool for looking up Franklin County bankruptcy records online. You can search by name, case number, or Social Security number. The fee is $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. If your charges stay under $30 in a quarter, they get waived. Case searches are free. You only pay when you open documents.

The PACER Case Locator runs a search across all federal courts. This helps if you are not sure whether a case was filed in the Northern District or elsewhere. It pulls results from every bankruptcy court in the country. Once you find the case, you can go to the specific court's PACER site for the full file.

For a quick check, call the Voice Case Information System at 866-222-8029. It runs 24 hours. You can get case status, filing date, chapter type, and discharge date over the phone at no cost. VCIS does not give you copies of documents though.

Public access terminals at the Albany and Plattsburgh courthouses let you look up Franklin County bankruptcy cases for free. Staff can help you find what you need.

Franklin County Clerk's Office Records

The Franklin County Clerk's Office sits at 355 West Main Street in Malone, NY 12953. The phone number is 518-481-1681. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is part of the 6th Judicial District and serves as clerk of the Supreme and County Courts in Franklin County.

While bankruptcy filings go through federal court, the Franklin County Clerk maintains records that often come into play during bankruptcy cases. Judgment liens, business certificates, land records, and court filings from state proceedings can all show up in a bankruptcy matter. Creditors and trustees regularly search these Franklin County records to verify claims and assets. The office also keeps military discharge records, notary files, and pistol permits.

Online record searches for Franklin County are available through SearchIQS. The portal lets you search land records, judgment dockets, and other documents filed with the county clerk. A subscription is required for full image access, but basic index searches may be available. Copy fees at the office run $0.65 per page.

The Northern District of New York Bankruptcy Court handles all bankruptcy filings from Franklin County and 31 other upstate counties.

Case information in the Northern District dates back to 1986, with electronic documents available from late 2002 forward.

Types of Bankruptcy Filings in Franklin County

Most Franklin County bankruptcy cases are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is a liquidation case. A trustee sells non-exempt assets to pay creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases for individuals close in three to six months. The debtor gets a discharge that wipes out most unsecured debts. Franklin County residents who choose New York State exemptions can protect their homestead up to $102,400, since Franklin County falls in the lower-tier exemption group.

Chapter 13 lets a debtor keep property while paying creditors through a repayment plan that lasts three to five years. These records show the plan, payment schedule, and any changes the court approves. This chapter works for people with steady income who want to catch up on a mortgage or car loan.

A bankruptcy case file typically contains the petition, schedules of assets and debts, a statement of financial affairs, proof of claim forms, the trustee's report, court orders, and records from the meeting of creditors. All of these documents become part of the Franklin County debtor's case record in federal court.

Getting Copies of Franklin County Bankruptcy Records

The fastest way to get copies is through PACER. Log in, find the case, and download what you need. Each page costs $0.10 with a $3.00 cap per document. Written opinions marked for release are free on PACER.

You can also visit a Northern District courthouse. The Clerk's Office can pull up case files and make copies. Bring the case number if you have it. Copies from the electronic case file cost $0.50 per page for cases filed on or after June 16, 2003.

Older Franklin County bankruptcy cases may have been sent to the National Archives. Getting files from NARA costs $90 for a full case, $35 for selected documents, or $35 for a docket sheet. Certification adds $15. You need case identifiers from the bankruptcy court first. Plan for a few weeks of turnaround time.

Franklin County State Court Records and Bankruptcy

State court records from Franklin County often matter in bankruptcy cases. Judgments, liens, and foreclosure actions filed in Franklin County Supreme Court can appear in a debtor's schedules. The eCourts system provides case tracking for Supreme Court matters across New York. You can search for civil cases tied to bankruptcy proceedings there.

The Franklin County Clerk records judgment dockets that show money owed. These liens attach to real property in the county. When someone files for bankruptcy, the automatic stay halts enforcement of these liens. But they still show up in the case records. Creditors file proof of claim forms that reference these Franklin County judgments. Trustees review them to determine which claims are valid.

The New York State Unified Court System provides general information on accessing court records. Franklin County court files can be obtained in person at the clerk's office or through online tools where available.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several other Northern District counties. You may also want to check bankruptcy records in these nearby areas.